Damian Lillard has asked the Portland Trail Blazers to trade him, the club confirmed Saturday.

An explicit trade request is the latest development in a months-long saga between Portland and the seven-time All-Star.

As an accomplished veteran on the Trail Blazers’ recent struggling teams, Lillard has long been considered a potential trade target. Until Saturday, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer insisted that he was focused on winning in Portland.

The Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are among the teams with serious interest in Lillard, according to multiple media reports.

Portland used the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft on guard Scoot Henderson after Lillard – who will turn 33 later this month – had reportedly lobbied the club to trade the pick for veteran help.

Blazers’ Joe Cronin: “We have been clear that we want Dame here but he notified us today he wants out and he’d prefer to play someplace else. What has not changed for us is that we’re committed to winning, and we are going to do what’s best for the team in pursuit of that goal.”

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023

Lillard is a seven-time All-NBA selection and is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, scoring personal-best 32.2 points per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the field.

In his 11 NBA seasons – all with the Trail Blazers – Lillard has made the conference finals just once, in 2019 before being swept by the Golden State Warriors. Portland has five first-round playoff exits with Lillard and failed to make the postseason in each of the last two seasons.

Lillard’s trade request comes a day after the Blazers agreed to re-sign forward Jerami Grant on a five-year, $160million contract.

Although new contracts do not become official until the end of the league moratorium on July 6, Portland intends to stand by Grant’s deal, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday.

Damian Lillard’s trade request doesn’t change Portland’s intention to sign Jerami Grant to the 5-year, $160 million contract agreed upon Friday, sources tell ESPN. Free agent deals can’t be formalized and signed until July 6.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023

While Lillard cannot dictate his trade destination, the Blazers will reportedly work with him to ensure his next home is suitable.

Fresh off an NBA Finals appearance, Miami is Lillard’s preferred destination, according to multiple media reports, and he spoke glowingly of Heat center Bam Adebayo after the pair helped the United States win an Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo games.

While Brooklyn does not appear to be in a position to contend for a championship next season, Lillard has publicly praised swingman Mikal Bridges in the past.

The Portland Trail Blazers have been informed that Damian Lillard wants a trade specifically to the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, multiple sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. https://t.co/CE2lJVcuod

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2023

Lillard has two years and $94.4million remaining on his contract, and whoever trades for him will need to accommodate his $45.6million cap hit next season.